Metal spraying apparatus



Dec. 17, 1940. H. R. FORTON METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed March 3, 1938 INVENTOR.

HAROLD R.FOR TON- H. R. FORTON 2,225,168

METAL SPRAYING APPARATUS Filed March 5, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIGS.

I I I "mi i ,lifH INVENTOR HAROLDR. RT BY zmf? 2 7 ad A ORN s PatentedDec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METAL SPRAYING APPARATUSHarold R. Forton, Detroit, Mich.

Application March 3. 1938, Serial No. 193,800

6 Claims.

This invention relates to means for atomizing and spraying moltenmetals, and aims to provide an improved construction,'of light, compact,and portable nature, usable with any desired source of heat, butespecially applicable for use in conjunction with a blowtorch or thelike,

which provides both a support for the apparatus and a very convenientand portable source of heat.

10 Another object is the provision of such apparatus which, thoughadapted to be heated by an open flame, such as that of a blowtorch,protects the metal against undue oxidation and does not propagate flameor products of combustion with the metal being sprayed.

Still another object is the provision of such apparatus so constructedthat clogging is reduced to an absolute minimum and provided withpermanently incorporated means, which is quickly and easily operable, bywhich any clogging which occurs can be eliminated without interruptingthe spraying process for more than a brief instant.

A further object comprises the provision of such spraying apparatusincorporating means whereby the size of the projected particles may beadjusted within wide limits, allowing the projection of an extremelyfine mist, or of relatively coarse droplets, or a spray of anyintermediate character.

A still further object worthy of note is the provision of an extremelysimple and compact nozzle construction, so arranged as to be guardedagainst undue cooling by the air blast.

Still another object is the provision of such apparatus which isaifixable to a blowtorch or other suitable support in any of a pluralityof positions, enabling most convenient adaptation of the apparatus tovarious uses and to the convenience of various operators, andforright-hand or lefthand operation.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the followingdescription, wherein reference is made to the accompanying drawingsillustrating preferred embodiments of my invention and wherein similarreference numerals designate similar parts throughout the several views.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view taken substantiallycentrally through an improved spraying device constructed in accordancewith the invention, showing in side elevation a blowtorch by which thespraying apparatus is 55 carried, and accessory apparatus.

nil

Figure 2 is an elevational view, taken at right angles to Figure 1 andlooking at the rear of the assembly, with the control knobs broken away.

Figure 3 is a top plan view of the assembly.

Figure 4'is a sectional detail of the nozzle, 5 clean-out rod andadjusting valve, partly broken away.

Figure 5 is a side view of a somewhat modified construction, shownmounted upon a chemical ring stand, and

Figure 6 is a top plan of such modified construction.

Referring now to the drawings, reference character I0 designates thetank of a combustible liquid blowtorch, which is illustrated as ofconventional construction, although it will be obvious that this mightbe modified as desired, and serves merely as a convenient'portablesource of heat, as well as to support the apparatus. The blowtorch, asshown, is provided with a handle l2 and pump [4 arranged in the wellknown manner, while the flame nozzle is and its adjusting handle iii arealso indicated as conventionally arranged. The drip cup 20 is providedwith an upwardly and forwardly projecting arm 22 which supports at itsend, in position to be heated by the flame from nozzle I5, a crucible25, indicated as attached to the supporting arm by screws and providedwith a flaring mouth into which the 30 metal to be sprayed may beinserted or fed. A stick of such metal, arranged to melt and feed bygravity, is indicated in dotted lines at 23.

The flame nozzle l5 and drip cup 20 are rigidly assembled and rotatablyattached to the neck 3 I9, as by means of the set screw 2|. Since theentire spraying apparatus is carried by these elements, this will beseen to enable turning the assembly with relation to the blowtorch, sothat by pointing it in any desired direction the con- 40 venience of theoperator or the requirements of the work to be done may be best suited.

A flame shielding hood 26 is provided, arranged to direct the frameagainst the crucible and secured to a bracket 21 which is clamped as by4 means of a set screw as to the flame nozzle l5. By moving the bracketto any desired position alon the nozzle, the hood may be adjusted forbest operation.

An aspirating nozzle assembly, attached to the front of the crucible bymeans of screws 3|, will be seen to be generally of flat cylindricalform and provided with a conical re-entrant face having centralconcentric openings through which the metal and air are discharged. Thenozzle 5 casing is generally designated 30. The air opening 33, ofannular'form, surrounds the central metal discharge orifice 35. Air forthe discharge blast enters the annular chamber 36 through a supplytube'31, the air being controlled by a valve mounted upon the handle ofthe blowtorch and presently to be described in greater detail. Themetal-discharge nozzle 10 may be protected against direct impingement ofthe air blast by a forwardly projecting cylindrical wall 38 extendingforwardly from the back wall of the nozzle casing, with which it isformed as a unit.

The rear extremity of the metal discharge nozzle 4,0 is counterbored andprovided with a suitable frusto-conical seat for an adjusting valve 45having a cooperatively tapered tip. The valve is movable toward and fromsuch seat, formed at the rear ,end of the metal discharge nozzle, toadjust the metal discharge rate. It also functions, when set topositions nearly closed, to break up the metal into minute particles andinsure a finely atomized spray. The metal control valve 45 is formed asan elongated rod which projects through the back wall of the crucibleand through hood 26 and bracket 21, being threaded in a boss 24 formedon the back of the crucible, and freely slidable and rotatable in thebracket 21. An adjusting knob fixed to the rearwardly projectingextremity of the valve stem provides for turning the same to adjust thevalve setting.

The valve will be seen to be of tubular form, and the central passagetherethrough of substantially the same diameter as the metal discharge,

orifice 35, so that a clean-out rod 50 of suitable dimensions may beprojected through the valve and nozzle, to clean the latter. A button 54is provided upon the rear end of the clean-out rod, which projectsbeyond the knob 44. The cleanout rod is made to rotate with the valveduring adjustment, and is urged toward retracted position by a spring63. An off center rod 62 carried by the button 64, which is fast uponthe cleanout rod, projects slidably through an opening in the knob 44,while the spring 63 encircles the rod 82.

The valve body 50 may be secured to the top handle support 43, by thesame screw I6 which holds the handle in place. The air is controlled bya needle valve 55 threaded and rotatably adjustable in the valve body bymeans of a knob 56 to control the admission of air to tube 31 and so tothe nozzle. The air is supplied from any suitable source (unshown)through a tube 51. A boss 5| projects upwardly from the valve body tosupport a pressure gauge 65 which, being located on the nozzle sideofthe valve, measures the static pressure in the air blast chamber,which blowtorch handle.

pressure exists because of the restricted size of the air outlet.

The valve body is herein shown as provided with a pair of integral tines58 adapted to straddle the upper handle l3 of the blowtorch to positionv the valve body. The valve body 50 remains in substantially theposition shown herein regardless of the angular positions assumed'by themetal spraying apparatus relatively to the The air tube 31 is preferablyformed of flexible metal and may be readily bent into various desiredshapes to enable ready adjustment around the neck I!) of the blowtorchwhenever it is desired to change the position of the metal sprayingdevice relatively to the handle of the blowtorch. The air tube 51remains stationary with the valve body-50 during such adjustments, andmay be readily connected with a source of air under pressure by anydesired means, as for example, by the rubber connector 59 In themodified construction shown in Figures 5 and 6, the crucible 25A isconstructed similarly to the crucible 25 of the first describedembodiment and provided with a. vertically perforated supporting ear 23Ahaving a set screw which enables convenient attachment of the crucibleto a rod-like support, such as the chemical ring stand, designated 22A.Since the interior portions of the nozzle, crucible, control valve andclean-out portions may correspond to those already described, parts areshown in'elevation only, and given reference numerals similar to thosealready used, distinguished by the addition of the letter A to each. Theair supply tube 31A in this embodiment supports the air control valve50A and is in turn supported by a bracket 52A projecting from the sideof the crucible. Detailed 1 clean-out rod button A, and air valveadjusting knob 56A, and that a Bunson burner or other suitable source ofheat (unshown), may be placed in such position beneath the crucible asto heat the same to enable projection of the atomized metal by the airor other desired projecting gas.

This may be supplied from a suitable source (unshown), through thesupply tube 59A.

What I claim is:

1. Means for atomizing and discharging molten metal, comprising incombination with a source of heat for melting the same and a receptaclewithin which the metal is adapted to' be melted and having a dischargeorifice therein, means for aspirating and discharging molten metalthrough and'frorn said orifice, valve means for adjusting the opening ofsaid orifice, said valve means having an opening extending therethroughand being arranged at lea-st partly within the receptacle, and aclean-out rod projectable through said opening in the valve means fromoutside of the receptacle, and through said orifice, to clean the same.

2. Means for atomizing and discharging molten metal, comprising areceptacle having a discharge orifice in one face thereof, means foraspirating and projecting metal through. and from said orifice, saidreceptacle also having an opening in an opposite face thereof inalignment with said orifice, valve means projecting through said lastmentioned opening to a position adja- 'cent said orifice to adjust thesize of the latter,

said valve means having an opening extending longitudinallytherethrough, and a clean-out rod projecting through said valve meansfrom the rear of said. receptacle and extensible into said orifice toclean the same.

3. Means for atomizing and projecting molten metal, comprising incombination with a source of heat, acrucible having a metal dischargingorifice in one wall thereof and having another opening substantiallyopposite and aligned with said orifice, means for aspirating the moltenmetal to draw it through and discharge it from said orifice, valve meansfor adjusting the dimensions of said orifice, comprising a rod-likevalve member projecting through said opening into abutting relation withthe inner end of said orifice, said valve member being threaded in saidopening and rotatable to adjust said orifice, said rod-like valve memberbeing hollow, and a cleanout rod extensible through said valve memberand into said orifice.

' 4. Means for melting, atomizing and projecting metal, comprising incombination a blowtorch having a support and a flame throwing nozzlecarried thereby, a drip cup carried by the support beneath the nozzle, abracket portion formed as a structural unit with said drip cup andprojecting forwardly beneath the nozzle, a receptacle for metal to bemelted, carried by said bracket portion in front of said nozzle, meansalso supported by said bracket portion for aspirating and projectingmetal melted in the receptacle, said last named means, together with thereceptacle, bracket portion, and nozzle being rotatably carried by saidsupport and swingable about a common axis.

5. Means for atomizing and projecting molten metal, comprising incombination with a source of heat, a crucible having a metal dischargingorifice in one wall thereof and having another opening substantiallyopposite and aligned with said orifice, means for aspirating the moltenmetal to draw it through and discharge it from said orifice, valve meansfor adjusting the dimensions of said orifice, comprising a rod-likevalve member projecting through said opening into abutting relation withthe inner end of said orifice, said valve member being threaded in saidopening and rotatable to adjust said orifice, said rod-like valve memberbeing hollow, a clean-out rod extensible through said valve member andinto said orifice, and spring means urging said rod in one direction.

6. Means for melting, atomizing and projecting metal, comprising incombination, a blowtorch having a flame throwing nozzle, a supportformed as a structural unit with said nozzle and projecting forwardlythereof, a receptacle for metal to be melted carried by said support infront of said nozzle, means also carried by said support for aspiratingand projecting metal melted in the receptacle, and a shielding hoodarranged over and larger than said nozzle and open at its front andrear,portions of the hood being adapted to extend upon either side of saidreceptacle and in spaced relation therewith, said hood portion beingdetachably carried by the nozzle and movable along the same to changethe draught characteristics thereof and the proportion of the flamewhich is allowed to escape without directly impinging the receptacle.

HAROLD R. FORTON.

